Bird Guide

Indian Nightjar vs Jerdon's Nightjar

Indian Nightjar (Caprimulgus asiaticus)

Indian Nightjar

Caprimulgus asiaticus

Small42 gShrubland

This nightjar is small and short-tailed with white corners to the tail, a golden nape and collar, dark cheeks and white patches on the sides of the throat. The crown is grey and the breast is finely barred in brown. The males have more white on the tail while the female is more heavily streaked on the crown. It is differentiated from Sykes's nightjar by the dark undertail and from Jerdon's nightjar by the shorter tail and white patches on the sides of the throat.

ID text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Sonogram of the Indian Nightjar
Recorded by Mike Prince · Song · Jayamangali Blackbuck Sanctuary, Tumkur, Karnataka, India · CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Parth Kansara · CC BY 4.0
Jerdon's Nightjar (Caprimulgus atripennis)

Jerdon's Nightjar

Caprimulgus atripennis

Medium61 gForest

Like other nightjars, it has a wide gape, long wings, soft downy plumage and nocturnal habits. At 26 cm in overall length, it is almost a head's length larger than the Indian nightjar (C. asiaticus), and differs from that species in its barred tail, rufous rear neck, and wing bars. The vermiculations on the crown are fine giving it a nearly uniform shade. The collar is blackish. The male has a white patch on each wing. Otherwise, their cryptic plumage is mainly variegated buff and brown, as typical for the dark tropical woodland nightjars.

ID text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Sonogram of the Jerdon's Nightjar
Recorded by JAIRAM VIJAYAN · Duet · Kadamberi, Kannur, Kerala, India · CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Mike Prince from Bangalore, India · CC BY 2.0

Where you might meet both

Learn this pair in the BeakBrain App

Photo and call practice. Coming soon to iPhone and Android.

Play today's Daily Bird

Photos and recordings are credited to their authors under the licence shown. Full profiles: Indian Nightjar and Jerdon's Nightjar.